Journal

When I first started going on adventures, I did so just for me. I went out into the world naïve and full of wonder, with no idea of what I’d find or if I’d enjoy it (or if I could cope with it.) I expected though that whatever happened, it would be a passing fad – a phase I went ‘through’, coming out the other side normal and sedentary.Luckily, I never did make it out. I got happily stuck in a cycle of trying to make my life as adventurous as possible. I was also fortunate to discover other passions – writing, storytelling, filmmaking; various ways of sharing my experiences. Writing is maybe what comes most naturally to me, but it is filmmaking that I see as perhaps the biggest challenge.

Making films of the journeys that I’ve been on has been one of the greatest joys I’ve experienced – equal (almost) to the trips themselves. ​

There is so much you can do with a film – so many ways to tell a story, to share a message. It’s a fantastic opportunity (and privilege) to have a platform to say something important. Films, and adventure, can change hearts and minds – entertain, educate, inspire. They can probably be annoying too – it’s another good challenge to try and avoid that.

I’ve loved trying to improve my craft as a filmmaker over the last couple of years, and it’s with nervous excitement that I look forward to the next few months – Festival Season! There’s no point in making these things if no one sees them. The internet has revolutionized how we absorb stories, but I’d argue that there’s no substitute for an old-fashioned cinema experience – a film containing the sweat, blood and tears of the filmmaker being watched by an audience who have chosen, based on the genre, to give up their free time to sit down and be enthralled.

There are no end of great Adventure Film Festivals both in the UK and further afield. To try and make any sort of a qualitative list is silly. I would like to share with you my favourites, though, in no particular order – based simply on experiences as an audience member or when I’ve been fortunate enough to have my film screened there (and, in a couple on instances, festivals that I haven’t been to but have heard so much praise for that it’s impossible to leave them out.)

Have you been to any of these? Where have I missed out? Tell me your favourite in the comments section, or on social media.

------Honorary mention:Pakistan International Adventure FestivalI got an email last year from the first ever adventure film festival in Pakistan, wanting to show one of my films. I wish I could have gone – it’s fantastic to see such a beautiful country embracing the world of Adventure festivals